DIG Mustafizur assures workers of full security, calls on owners to reopen closed factories

Dhaka Range Deputy Inspector General (DIG) Mustafizur Rahman has assured workers of full security and called on owners to reopen the closed factories. He said the police will ensure workers' security everywhere — at factories, on roads and at their residences.

He made the remarks while talking to journalists after visiting the Dhaka Export Processing Zone (DEPZ) in Ashulia at around 12:30pm on Thursday (5 November). Dhaka district superintendent of police Shamima Parvin was present at the time.

The DIG said work is going on in full swing in Gazipur, Narayanganj and Savar under the Dhaka Range. In Ashulia, work is going on safely everywhere except at a handful of factories. All factories in the DEPZ are also open and production is continuing, he said.

Calling on workers of the factories that remain closed to return to work, he said adequate police have been deployed in Dhaka district for workers' security. Alongside uniformed police, police in plain clothes are also on duty.

Raising the wage board, Mustafizur Rahman said the wage board was formed on the 1st of this month and the board's first meeting was held on Wednesday (4 November). There is no lack of goodwill from the administration in this regard, and the current government is also worker-friendly, he said.

The DIG commented that another group is instigating the ongoing labour unrest. He said a meeting was held with the workers' side in Savar on Wednesday. There they clearly said the ongoing movement is not theirs and they have no involvement with it. Their demand was the formation of a wage board, which has been formed and whose first meeting has also been held, he noted.

He said a group creating anarchy in the name of a labour movement is trying to create an unstable situation by exploiting workers' emotions.

Saying strict legal action will be taken against those creating anarchy, he said warnings have been given on this matter for the last three to four days. Between 25 and 30 people have been arrested in Ashulia and Savar police station areas. He claimed none of them are workers. Eight cases have been filed in this connection and the process of filing several more is under way, he said.

Addressing workers, the DIG said it is also the workers' responsibility to resist those who are creating anarchy by capitalising on their emotions. He also called on the general people and businesses of Ashulia to protest against such activities and cooperate with the police. He noted that many people in the area depend on the labour sector and business and trade are being harmed.

In reply to a journalist's question about fears of workers being wrongfully detained from their homes, the DIG said workers will get security at factories, on roads and at their own residences — everywhere. Police mobile and patrol teams are already patrolling workers' residential areas. Intelligence is also being gathered on who is intimidating workers and disrupting their security, and strict action will be taken against those involved in such activities, he said.

Calling workers the real fighters of the economy, Mustafizur Rahman said it is through their labour that the country's export earnings come and the economy stays running. The police and the government are very kind to workers. But a zero tolerance policy will be followed against those creating disorder using their name, he said.